post op hip operation

dizzylizzy · 2. Sep 2010, 19:29

Hello I would love to hear from any of you who have had a hip op - mine was just two weeks ago - what type of pain did you have and how did you get on feeling wise - how long was it before you could do various things etc... Love dizzylizzy

dreamdaisy · 3. Sep 2010, 02:39

Ooooh, I love the name! Morning, I haven't had a hip op tho many around here have and I am sure they will answer in due course. I hope you slept well last night and are feeling reasonably OK this morning. The one thing that I have learned is that things can take longer to settle than you may think, wish or want. Give yourself time to recover, it is a big procedure, be kind to yourself for a good few weeks and be prepared to feel up-and-down as you convalesce. I wish you well. DD

frogmorton · 3. Sep 2010, 03:00

Hiya Dizzylizzy

There are loads who have had them quite recently you can do a 'search' for them in the search box, but some of the THRers will sure to be along very soon.

Love

Toni xx

speedalong · 3. Sep 2010, 11:42

Hi Dizzylizzy - welcome to the forum and congratulations for having your hip op and now focussing on your recovery.

So more questions before answers!!
What op was it - total hip replacement/resurface-replacement/other?
Do you know what was used if it was a THR - ceramic/metal etc?
What anaethesia did you have?
Are you using crutches? Are you wearing TEDS? Are you following hip restrictions?
How is the swelling?
What pain meds are you on?
Do you have a physio exercises to do?

I had a THR 13 years ago on my left hip and resurface replacement on my right hip in May this year.

First 2 weeks are the worst, pain wise and mobility. Things gradually start to improve after that - though there seems to be tendancy for a two steps forward, one step backwards approach to recovery - you feel great, less pain than in ages, over do it ... pay and need to rest the next day etc Sleep is tricky until bladder settles down from op and if you aren't used to sleeping on your back that makes the whole sleep thing harder. A lie down on the bed to elevate the leg in the afternoon was essential in the early weeks to keep the swelling under control. For the first few weeks I took my pain meds regularly, I gradually weaned off the codeine until I was just on paracetomol. Once I wasn't hanging on for the next dose of paracetomol I started to reduce them too.

Keep us posted with your progress.

Speedy

marion1952 · 4. Sep 2010, 16:43

Hi Dizzylizzy

I had my hip replaced on 6th May this year. The first 2 weeks are really tough if I remember right (!) - my leg felt like I ws dragging a tree trunk around.. I wasn't expecting it to feel that bad..

I found that I had an improvement every 3 days or so. I also had a few 'scares' when I was worried I had done some damage to my new hip - usually when I had overdone the walking!!

Are you having the Heparin injections to thin the blood and prevent a DVT? I had to do those for 28 days.

I had a lot of swelling in my leg/ankle/foot. My GP told me to have frequent 20 minute rests on the bed, with a pillow under my feet (In fact I put some pillows under the mattress and found that was better).

I used 2 crutches for quite a while and I'm still using one crutch a lot of the time - eg I don't use a crutch in the house, but when I walk the dogs I still use it..

I started driving again about 9 weeks.

Please keep posting and let us know how your recovery is going..

Marion x

denpen · 6. Sep 2010, 06:11

Hi dizzylizzy
I had my THR back in April, my pain was not too bad after the first week or so just sore from the op but alot better than before, obviously moving about is difficult and uncomfortable for the first few weeks or so, and I did wonder wether I would ever get any better at times, but go at your own pace, only do what you feel you can do, rest whenever you want to, and take the advice from your physio, and surgeon its a slow process and everyone recovers differently, so dont try to push yourself and allow yourself recover.
If you have any special worries or concerns post on here and someone will always be able to help, and post and update as to how you are doing as you progress.
Denise

dorcas · 6. Sep 2010, 06:16

Hi dizzylizzie

I've no experience of hip ops but just wanted to say hi and welcome to the forum.

there are lots of good peeps around who'll help you lots with any questions you have.

hope all goes well with your recovery.

Iris xxx

julie47 · 6. Sep 2010, 06:22

Hi and welcome

I just wanted to wish you a speedy recovery as i have no experience of hip opps.

love juliepf x

lululu · 6. Sep 2010, 11:33

Hi dizylizzie Welcome to the forum.

lulu

tonesp · 6. Sep 2010, 15:31

Anyone any ideas how soon should I book a holiday after the op?

dizzylizzy · 6. Sep 2010, 16:56

Hi everyone - do hope I am answering this in the right place - my thanks to all of you for replying - am replying in general to speedalong as you have most of the pointers I am querying.. Had op on 18th Aug not sure on the material - anaethestic was local and in my wrist - anaethestist joked that I went to sleep on him - thankgoodness ! am terrrible coward where this was concerned... Yes I came out with crutches and no longer using Teds - am still on Pradaxa - leg swells slightly now and again - when I rang hospital they just said this was ok and to elevate it from time time. Came home with lots of exercises - ie for if Isit down for more than an hour - to do on my twice daily bed rests and in general - have been doing a lot of walking around and up my street a couple of times with daughter - re... sleep gets better when bladder settles down after op ... I am getting up about 3 times during the night to visit bathroom and have been concerned this will not go away! ? And then I did go onto a site where a few people said their hip dislocated and this has freaked me out a little... have been really lucky I think in that apart from tender legs from knees down and every so often adull ache in the good of side back thanks again all you lovely people for bothering to answer me. love dizzylizzy

t t[quote

ironic · 6. Sep 2010, 17:17

Hi Dizzy,

Sorry no help with your op but just wanted to say welcome to the forum.

Sounds as though you are doing really well. Our Speedy will be very upset that your not having to ware the Teds. She loved them sooo much....not :shock:

Lv, Ix

wendgro · 7. Sep 2010, 04:51

dizzylizzy wrote:

Hello I would love to hear from any of you who have had a hip op - mine was just two weeks ago - what type of pain did you have and how did you get on feeling wise - how long was it before you could do various things etc... Love dizzylizzy

I had a new hip 3yrs ago and a new knee 2yrs ago yes you do feel very strange with the hip for quite a while and yes you do get strange pains and feet swelling and restless leg syndrome and you do feel that things are progressing so slowly. But -- Things do get better and now I forget that I have a new hip no pain at all and walking is fine can't say that about the knee the operation was a success but movement is restricted and still use a stick but there again my other hip is not good and need the stick with that.

speedalong · 7. Sep 2010, 07:36

Hi Dizzy Lizzy, sounds like you are doing great at not quite 3 weeks post op!! Ask your consultant at your next check up what sort of artificial join he used - the more you know the better.

No Teds - dead right Ironic - I'm really jealous ... my consultant wanted me to wear them for 4 months!!!! (Wore them for just under 7 weeks during heatwave - a nightmare.)

Gosh you are doing well with the swelling - amazing. Regular elevation is the key. It sounds like you are doing well with the walking ... good to gradually increase how far you walk each day.

The wee thing will get better - I was waking to wee every hour at first, gradually improved and the gaps between needing to go lengthened and my bladder is now back to normal. Honest.

Poor Nearlybionic suffered a dislocation - but they are very rare - just follow your hip precautions, take care and think about what you are doing. The most likely way to dislocate it when you combine two hip movements at a time ie bend the knee and twist and/or cross the midline. Dislocation is apparently AGONY - so if you did dislocate your hip you would know about it. As the wound starts to heal and nerves and soft tissues start to come to life again, you will feel lots of different and changing sensations in your hip ... easy to worry - but all very normal.

I think lots of us have suffered with the unoperated leg complaining at having to do a bit extra.

Keep posting - it is great to hear how you are doing and your posts will also help other folks who have just had a hip op and/or are waiting ...

Speedy

speedalong · 7. Sep 2010, 07:37

Are you going to have your other hip done at some point, Wendygro?

Speedy

wendgro · 7. Sep 2010, 09:06

speedalong wrote:

Are you going to have your other hip done at some point, Wendygro?

Speedy

The consultant asked me if I wanted it done now but I couldn't face it just at the moment.The consultant said when the medication stops working then go and have it done so keep taking the meds and fingers crossed I can manage a few more months.

speedalong · 7. Sep 2010, 10:55

Hi Wendygro - like last time, you'll know when you need it ... just remember there is a bit of a wait from the time you decide you can't carry on without the op and the time to ortho can fit you in. (This happened to me, I suddenly realised I couldn't put it off any longer ... and then of course had to wait for my appointment and a "few short months" as my consultant put it - whilst on the "urgent" list.)
Now post op, even though I get impatient with my recovery - I am of course better off than before the op.

Speedy

dizzylizzy · 8. Sep 2010, 18:05

Hi Speedy and everyone - you have all really helped with your lovely and thoughtful replies/comments - I do appreciate it - I feel as if I know you all tho we have never met ! thank you also for the comments on getting up for frequent pees - I am up 3/4 times a night - glad to know it should eventually come to an end.

See what you mean about perhaps 3 good days and then a bad one - didnt feel so good in myself this morning and leg was stiff but when weather warmed up I got walking outside on my decking and also doing the exercises so felt better later;;;

Do any of you lovely people know if something like Bio oil ? to rub onto my scar will help the healing process please ? Luv Dizzy x

daylily · 8. Sep 2010, 19:29

dizzylizzy wrote:

Hi Speedy and everyone - you have all really helped with your lovely and thoughtful replies/comments - I do appreciate it - I feel as if I know you all tho we have never met ! thank you also for the comments on getting up for frequent pees - I am up 3/4 times a night - glad to know it should eventually come to an end.

See what you mean about perhaps 3 good days and then a bad one - didnt feel so good in myself this morning and leg was stiff but when weather warmed up I got walking outside on my decking and also doing the exercises so felt better later;;;

Do any of you lovely people know if something like Bio oil ? to rub onto my scar will help the healing process please ? Luv Dizzy x

Hi, I used Bio oil on my scar and you can hardly see it now, just a faint line.
Wonderful stuff,quite expensive but a little goes a long way. Take care and don't rush things too much.x

speedalong · 9. Sep 2010, 07:10

Hi Dizzylizzy,
I do know what you mean about this forum it was a great support to me pre and post op and now is just about keeping me sane before I go back to work ...

Bio oil was recommended to me too, but some say not to use it before 6 weeks - beware I had a scare with it - I didn't know about waiting 6 weeks and started using probably at around 4 to 5 weeks - all seemed to be going well and the scar seemed to pull less after applying and then one day I either applied too much or massaged too enthusiastically and my scar and surrounding area become warm and tender to the touch and I was a bit worried I was developing an infection - until I worked out what had happened. I stopped using it for a few weeks and used baby oil with aloe vera on DD's advice. I'm do use the bio oil again now - but am careful not to use too much and not to rub it in too vigourously.

Speedy

denpen · 9. Sep 2010, 11:59

Hi Dizzylizzie
Bio Oil is good but only use it when the scar has healed properly.
Hope your feeling a little better now take it slowly and you will be fine.
Denise

barbara12 · 9. Sep 2010, 12:36

Hi Dizzylizzy
And welcome to the forum, bet you are so glad you joined, all those answers people have given you, its priceless.
I hope you feel better today,
Love
Barbara xx

dizzylizzy · 10. Sep 2010, 18:18

Hi Marion I too have had had leg and foot swelling these past 2/3 days - have been doing the exercises although not 100% as you are supposed to do them so many times but am working on it.. do have the rest with foot raised but it is concerning me a little Went daughters for dinner this evening and altho I was a little apprenhensive about getting into the car I managed it... I just keep getting a little dull pain at the bottom of my back on my ' good' side - I did have this before I had my op so do hope it is something that will eventually go away I just wonder when the op leg feels a little stiff if it also means I should have done more exercise ? Lov ya all Dizzylizzy x

marion1952 · 10. Sep 2010, 18:42

Hi dizzylizzy

I think you are doing really well .. It's still 'early days' for you and it has been a big operation ,so it will take quite a few weeks for your body to settle down.

I had really bad swelling in my lower leg/foot for about 12 weeks post op actually - even though I was doing those basic foot paddling exercises constantly. I had to buy new shoes as none of my old ones would fit, and even then I had to cut the elastic on the new shoes! I went to see my GP and he said the swelling would go down eventually (and it has).

I think the stiffness lasts for many months too. I am quite active and mobile now, but when I've been sitting for any length of time I am very stiff when I first get up... and I'm 18 weeks post op now.

It's all been worth it though - I was in agony before I had it done - I had to use 2 sticks and could barely get from the house to the car.. so it's brilliant now!

Well done for getting in the car. I was worried about that first of all too, but actually I was quite OK getting in and out.

Don't get disheartened if you have the odd 'bad day' when you feel you are not improving. That seems par for the course..

Keep posting and let us know how you get on.

Marion x

speedalong · 11. Sep 2010, 06:47

Hi Dizzylizzy, sorry the swelling is playing up - the further you get from the op the less you feel like elevating it for long, but if you don't the swelling returns. Best place to elevate it is on the bed with a row of pillows under the mattress at the end of the bed. (sticking out slightly so they don't slip and move.)

Try tipping the seat back on the car seat when you get in, sit on the car seat with your legs on the road (not pavement) and then lean back as you (or your chaffeur!) lift your legs into the car. Then once settled the seat back can be raised again. Use cushions on the seat too.

I had the pain in my lower back and buttock on the good side - the leg is having to work harder at the moment and compensate for the op hip. As the op hip gets stronger and starts to work harder and do it's fair share the pain will go.

Speedy

dizzylizzy · 11. Sep 2010, 16:56

speedalong wrote:

I seem to have done the same as you with cushions under the mattress - car I finally managed too
and the pain in the good side - so glad it might go - still cant imagine walking normally - without the crutches altho all friends seem to know someone who has done just that ! keep giving my 'stones' a nightly rub 1 for positiveness, 1 for arthritis..... Bye speedy

Speedy

post op hip operation

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